Within the framework of his official visit to Canada, Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos arrived on Tuesday, 26 February, in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, where he visited the Canadian Senate and met with the Speaker of the Senate, Noel Kinsella, who hosted a reception in Mr. Avramopoulos’s honor at the Canadian Parliament.

Mr. Avramopoulos expressed Greece’s appreciation for the stance Canada has maintained and for the confidence it has shown in our country by moving ahead with major investments in Greece. He also announced the Hellenic Parliament’s ratification of the Greek-Canadian Agreement on Youth Mobility, which is aimed at building new bridges of friendship between the two countries.

Mr. Kinsella underscored Canada’s ties of friendship with Greece, which are based on mutual respect and cooperation, as well as on the large and flourishing Greek Canadian community.

The same evening, Mr. Avramopoulos attended a dinner with Canadian senators and MPs of Greek origin and other prominent members of the Greek Canadian community.

A day earlier, on Monday, 25 February, the Foreign Minister visited Montreal – home to a large Greek Canadian community – where he met with Mayor Michael Applebaum, who stressed the Greek Canadian community’s role in Montreal’s economic, business and political life, expressing interest in the organization of a business mission to Athens.

On the same day, Mr. Avramopoulos addressed the Montreal Greek-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, detailing Greece’s comparative advantages, including its human resources, geographical position, and infrastructure. He also made special mention of the major reforms Greece is carrying out in all sectors, referring in particular to the new investment law and the streamlining of bureaucratic procedures.

Finally, Mr. Avramopoulos visited the Hellenic Community Center of Greater Montreal, where he met with the leadership and members of the city’s Greek community.